Schedule
- Declaration period: 12/16/25-1/1/26
- Cure period: 1/2-1/8/26
- The ballot will be presented to membership on 1/9/26.
- Voting period: 1/11-1/19/26
January Board Meeting 1/8/26
Annual General Meeting 1/11/26 (Seventh Son Brewing)
New Board assumes office 2/1/2026
Transitional Board Meeting: Thurs 2/5/26 at 6:00pm
Candidates
Candidates were asked to review the Director role responsibilities, the Nordecke Leadership Code of Conduct, and consider the required time commitment before submitting their Declaration.
This section will be updated periodically throughout the Nomination/Declaration period, so that members can review candidates and their experience/goals prior to voting. Candidates are listed alphabetically by first name under each position.
Kourtney Sullivan
What makes you a good fit for this role?
Dear Nordecke,
My name is Kourtney Sullivan, and I am proud to once again announce my candidacy for Nordecke Board Chairperson for the 2026-2027 seasons.
I currently serve as the Nordecke Chairperson/President, a role I have held since February 1, 2025. I am a lifelong Columbus Crew supporter, having attended my first match back when the team played at The Horseshoe. Since then, I’ve been an active participant in multiple supporters groups and deeply involved with Nordecke since its formation in 2008. Nordecke has always been more than a section to me—it is a community, a family, and a responsibility I take very seriously.
Why I Am Running:
I believe I am well prepared to continue to serve as Chairperson based on experience, relationships, and proven results.
Leadership & Experience: Years of hands-on leadership in supporter engagement in matchday operations, and President/Chairperson have given me a clear understanding of what it takes to sustain and grow a passionate, inclusive supporters culture.
Trusted Relationships: I have built strong relationships across supporters groups, volunteers, the Board, and within the Crew organization—allowing me to communicate effectively, listen actively, and advocate responsibly.
Welcoming & Inclusive Culture: I am committed to ensuring Nordecke remains a place where people feel encouraged to volunteer, lead, and belong—whether they are first-time supporters or long-standing members.
Crew Collaboration: My established working relationships with the Crew front office enable productive collaboration while maintaining firm advocacy for supporter interests.
Long-Term Vision: I am focused on building sustainable systems that allow Nordecke to grow, remain relevant, and provide real value to its members for years to come.
2025 Season: What We Accomplished Together
The past season demonstrated what is possible when leadership, volunteers, and supporters work in alignment:
The Board and deputies collaboratively created Nordecke’s first Vision Statement, Mission Statement, and Core Values.
Organized the first-ever Crewzers Reunion in celebration of the league’s 30th anniversary.
Successfully organized and ran two Nordecke Cup tournaments in a single calendar year. (2024/2025)
TIFO had a total of 115 volunteers that came out to help sew, trace, paint, grommet, and net the 7 different displays throughout the season.
TIFO created 4 panels for 2 displays in 10 days to honor our retiring captain Darlington Nagbe.
Recruited and trained 15 new Capos, strengthening chant leadership and matchday energy.
Gave over 40 children the opportunity to lead chants from the Capo stand—creating lifelong memories for them and their families.
Engaged over 60 volunteers across Nordecke community events.
Achieved a record-breaking NorOnTour turnout, selling 1,052 away match tickets (excluding the Cleveland match).
Strengthened supporters group support by:
Guaranteeing each SG a dedicated presence at every North Lot tailgate.
Supporting LTA’s Leagues Cup tailgate takeover against Leon.
Funding BFSC’s Cincinnati smoke-out tailgate, serving over 90 pounds of smoked meats.
Collaborating with GCGBAG on Earth Day Historic Crew Stadium’s cleanup efforts and supporting their CRISmas fundraiser for immigrant families.
These accomplishments were not individual successes—they were collective wins that reflect what Nordecke can achieve with strong leadership and empowered volunteers, Supporters Groups, and fans.
If elected, what do you feel should be the first order of business for your role?
Vision for 2026 and Beyond:
As Chairperson, my overarching goal is to strengthen the fabric of our supporter community while preparing Nordecke for long-term sustainability.
Running Together With a Deputy:
For the 2026-2027 term, I am honored to be running with my Deputy, Alicia Hughes. I realized from this past season that it is vital for the success of this position to have a deputy to ensure that nothing is missed for the effective running of the organization. As Chairperson I want continuous improvement for 2026 as it is going to be a chaotic season with the upcoming World Cup, it’s the last season on this calendar, and because of the anticipated changes and challenges that will arrive. As Chairperson, I will work closely with Alicia to co-lead strategic initiatives, support Board members and special projects, and ensure continuity and shared accountability in advancing Nordecke’s mission.
Unity & Inclusivity: Nordecke thrives because of its diversity. I will continue to help Matchday Directors in recruiting drummers, Capos, brass members, and supporters from all corners of the Crew fanbase to create the most intimidating atmosphere in MLS—and beyond. We will continue to expand outreach efforts and partnerships with organizations aligned with our values.
Engagement & Communication: Transparent, two-way communication is essential. I will continue to help our Communications team in all of the Social Media posts, weekly newsletters, and Statements. I will continue to prioritize listening to supporters and ensuring each Board member is supported by deputies and senior leadership to execute goals effectively.
Fan Experience: We will continue building toward the largest and most electric supporters section possible, expanding tailgates, strengthening and growing partnerships, and delivering unforgettable themed matchday experiences.
Growth & Legacy: My focus is on helping Nordecke move toward greater financial independence by expanding partnerships within and beyond the 614. This includes enhancing our tifo space and searching for a more productive work location. A bigger and more functioning space gives our creative director to take Columbus Crew Tifos to bigger and more Massive places that fans could only imagine.
Travel & Away Support: I will continue to work with our travel director and away supporter groups in exploring organized travel options—buses, hotels, and shared experiences—to ensure our traveling supporters feel connected and supported wherever the Crew plays.
Leadership Development: Strong organizations require strong leaders. I will ensure each Board role is supported by deputies and leadership teams, building continuity and preventing burnout.
Community Impact: Nordecke is more than soccer. We will continue growing charitable initiatives, collaborating with local podcasts and supporters groups on fundraisers, runs, and community-driven events that reflect who we are.
I am deeply invested in this club—but even more invested in the supporters and fans who give it life. Together, we can continue building a Nordecke that is stronger, more inclusive, and more impactful than ever.
Thank you for your trust and support.
For Columbus. For the Crew. For Nordecke.
Kourtney Sullivan
Chairperson/President
Candidate for Nordecke Board Chairperson 2026
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Kevin Clark
What makes you a good fit for this role?
I’ve served as chair in three other nonprofit organizations that, like the Nordecke today, were encountering a shortage of member engagement and volunteerism. Most recently, I chaired the board of an organization that had been dependent on in-person events to help it survive through the COVID pandemic. The challenges that the Nordecke currently faces are very similar to circumstances I’ve inherited in other volunteer roles, and I have a track record of leaving these organizations in healthier states to continue expanding and flourishing after the torch is passed to future leaders.
Also, my primary job is at heart a people business. Success is based on listening, learning, allying, and encouraging. From my vantage point, the Nordecke is a very fractured collective. Too much time and effort is being spent in intra-supporter feuds when efforts need to be refocused on pushing back against the front office and ownership’s attempts to corporatize our organization. This is especially important as MLS transitions to a new calendar next year and the Crew begins a new era of leadership at multiple levels of management.
If elected, what do you feel should be the first order of business for your role?
Restocking the cabinet. A nonprofit organization’s health is a function of its volunteer base. We need to make it easier for people to volunteer their time and also more meaningful and fulfilling to them to offer their time to the Nordecke. This requires the skills I use every day in my career: listening, learning, and finding common ground to build upon together. The Nordecke will not achieve anything meaningful until the board earns back the trust and support of its members and supporters groups at large. This will be my focus as the board’s chairperson.
Brent Miller
What makes you a good fit for this role?
I don’t think my younger self would’ve expected that falling in love with the Crew would somehow eventually lead to learning how to sew, but here we are. I learned a lot this past season from the timing of tifo projects, using sewing machines, better communication practices, and how to deal with the front office while protecting our creative freedom. All of that experience would put us in a great position to hit the ground running next season with better planning and raise our creativity game.
If elected, what do you feel should be the first order of business for your role?
The first order of business will be to get a strong head start on the Crewsmas display.
Beyond that, the strong team that we’ve developed over the last season has agreed to run it back with me if elected. Having support that can handle every part of the project means I can spend more time making the Nordecke a healthier, more sustainable organization over the long term, with projects like bylaw updates and fundraising (tifo really ain’t cheap).
Of course, this doesn’t mean I won’t still be participating in the actual tifo process. I’ll still be there every step of the way, getting my hands dirty with y’all as we bring more great displays to life.
Paco Argondizza
Have you previously served on the Nordecke Board of Directors? If so, what role(s) and year(s)?
I served as Interim Match Day Experience Director for the 2025 season.
What makes you a good fit for this role?
I was fortunate to serve as Match Day Experience Director on an interim basis for the 2025 season, and it was one of the best experiences I could have asked for. I have served with the Nordecke as a volunteer for the past three seasons.
During that time, I have volunteered in all aspects of the organization, including Matchday operations, as well as assisting with tifo, banners, and tailgate activities. This has given me a strong foundation of knowledge working within the Nordecke community, along with an understanding of the day-to-day responsibilities involved in Matchday operations.
I love showing my passion and love for the Crew and the Nordecke at games, and I especially enjoy finding ways to get everyone in the section involved.
If elected, what do you feel should be the first order of business for your role?
Communication is a large part of what Matchday entails. My first order of business would be to begin utilizing social media and working closely with the Nordecke Communications team to better communicate Matchday chants and coordinate the section during events such as moments of silence or remembrance.
My vision includes weekly video posts outlining upcoming events and any section requests for each home game, helping ensure everyone is informed, prepared, and unified on Matchday.
Melanie Brown
Have you previously served on the Nordecke Board of Directors? If so, what role(s) and year(s)?
I have served in a senior leadership capacity under our current Community Chair, Emily Kegg, but have not previously held a Board of Directors position.
What makes you a good fit for this role?
I believe I’m a good fit for the Merchandise Director role because I bring a mix of long-term Nordecke experience, practical merchandise knowledge, and a collaborative approach to leadership. I’ve been part of this supporters’ group since 2010 (pre-Nordecke collective, I was a member of the Hudson Street Hooligans and Crew Supporters Union) and have seen how much merchandise matters as a way we express identity, values, and pride in this community.
In my current senior leadership role under our Community Chair, I assist with planning, coordination, and execution for community events, which translates directly to merchandise work. Timelines, communication, budgeting, vendor coordination, and follow-through all matter. I’m detail-oriented, organized, and comfortable managing projects from idea to delivery.
I’m especially interested in improving early planning and collaboration, particularly as we look ahead to 2026 memberships and long-term merchandise strategy. My goal isn’t to reinvent things for the sake of change, but to build on what works, collaborate openly, and ensure our merchandise is accessible, inclusive, and reflective of who the Nordecke is today.
At the end of the day, I care deeply about this group and want our merchandise to be something members are genuinely excited about, whether they’ve been here for decades or just joined this year.
If elected, what do you feel should be the first order of business for your role?
If elected, my first order of business would be to create clear, accessible feedback channels for members to share opinions and suggestions on merchandise offerings. I believe our merchandise is strongest when it reflects the voices and creativity of the people who wear it.
That includes setting up intentional ways for members to give input—whether through surveys, open feedback threads, or targeted calls for ideas—and, just as importantly, communicating back about what we’re working on, what’s feasible, and what timelines look like. Transparency and follow-through matter deeply.
My goal is to make merchandise a collaborative, community-driven effort while still keeping it organized, realistic, and sustainable.
Brad Holloway
Having a background in logistics and management I have a high attention to detail and a strong desire to work in collaboration with others to achieve a common goal. I feel this is an essential part of being a good partner and I welcome the opportunity to work with our current partners to make the upcoming season a success and strive to provide open communication…to partners and to members…to achieve this. I also welcome feedback from the member base on what new partners they would like to see the Nordecke work with, realizing that our membership is the backbone of our organization, and to achieve this I would like to establish a direct line of communication to members so they can reach out and offer up ideas and suggestions that can then be explored.
Roles and Duties of each Board position can be found here.
Individuals seeking an officer position must:
- Be a current Member who is registered, pays the required dues, and is currently in good standing;
- Have been a Member during the year prior to declaring candidacy (Member for at least 2 years)
- Be at least twenty-one (21) years of age by the date of the election; and
- Personally affirm CSU’s tax-exempt purposes, abide in all respects with the policies set forth in these Bylaws, and characterize personal commitment to the values of CSU.
Declaration Form Here!
Members must be logged in to complete form. Candidates may run for only one Director position.
Questions include:
– What makes you a good fit for the role?
– If elected, what do you feel the first business for your role should be?
– Have you previously served on the Board? If yes, what role(s) and year(s)?
Interested in getting more involved but not ready to run for the Board? There are various Leadership positions that the 2026 Board will appoint! Keep an eye out for an application or interest form after the election ends.
Learn more about the positions and responsibilities in section 4.4 of the Bylaws!
Election Info
(Administered by Election Buddy)
How do members vote?
- The current membership list will be uploaded to Election Buddy, which will send out a unique voting link once voting is open. Members will only be able to vote once.
- Members will receive three reminders to vote from Election Buddy.
- This will be a ranked choice vote. More information about ranked choice voting can be found here.
Once voting has started, no one will have access to the voting results. Once voting has ended, the results will be published by Election Buddy for all to see. This means that even Nordecke Election Administrators will not have access to results until voting has ended.
- The ballot will show each role with the responsibilities listed as they are on the Nordecke website.
- Any current Board member that is running will have (I) next to their name to indicate incumbent candidate.
- Each candidate will have a photo and an information link to view the candidate’s answers to the two questions they answered when declaring for candidacy.